Political Map of the Broken Sea Region

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This map doesen't include physical terrain features apart from land/sea and very major rivers, though the rough locations of a few mountain ranges are listed. UPDATE 4/29/08: There is now a physical map available as well, with more complete terrain features, though this one provides a more complete picture of the local spheres of influence.
Each country uses a(n at least slightly) different color, but white always represents areas that are uninhabitable, unclaimed, unexplored, unknown to Black Steel, or some combination; harder colors fading toward white represent either disputed claims (e.g. between Rhedas and Ephinos; Rhedas has the upper hand in the disputed area, which is why it's shading to their color from white) uncertainty about the extent of certain nations (e.g. the depth of the jungles controlled by the trade network, and the extent to which "control" is the operative term, still isn't very clear, which is why the green fades toward white as you grow further from Llaesira's region) or essentially wild lands ruled mostly "in name only" (e.g. the Shalasa desert has always been claimed by Shalasia, and no one disputes the claim, but ... it's still just a huge, empty desert).
Shalasia (capital: Shalaton) was the first nation to establish diplomatic relations with The Scabbard, and Matrix has been ambassador there for years; she is also betrothed to one of this rich desert country's powerful Pashas, Pasha Fokahre, who controls the iron mines near the border with...
Espava (capital: Leziv) is where Matrix is currently stationed as temporary ambassador; she recently established diplomatic relations there after negotiating an end to the border war then brewing between Shalasia and Espava, but when Byriche (the new ambassador to Espava) arrives, she expects to return to Shalaton.
Arasta extends further north than the map shows; Dwiereth is currently ambassador there (recently installed, and mostly as a sinecure, and to help imply a greater presence and influence around the Broken Sea than Black Sail actually has).
Korv (Capital: Korv Harbor) is the strange and complex realm of dwarves and men out beyond the Edge (Thornton) and the jungles, where Thorm "Glib" Casati has long been ambassador.
Havandia (Capital: Virhas) is the large country southeast of the Scabbard that relies heavily on Grat'han slaves and is Black Sail's biggest competitor for export of jungle resources. Thragor is "playing ambassador" there right now, but there hasn't been a full-time embassy since Trevor was recalled to the Scabbard to work on construction projects.

Major National Projects

1. Kaiimar, Kaiimar, Kaiimar. This is the city on the coast of the Grat'han jungles, at essentially the closest point on the mainland to Scabbard Island, with a population of more than ten thousand, which if added to Black Steel would represent an enormous percentage increase in the population. Taken as a whole, Kaiimar is a wealthy city with excellent natural resources, but the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small aristocracy of merchant lords, who are mostly Havandian immigrants or of Havandian descent, but do not appear to have the full support of the Havandian government -- actions against Kaiimar, especially if executed properly, wouldn't constitute (and shouldn't trigger) an act of war, the more so because of certain recent events in Havandia itself. The goal here is simple to state, though by no means simple to execute: Free the city and incorporate it into Black Steel. The strategy is to overwhelm the defenses with a series of coordinated attacks of many different types on multiple fronts, culminating in rebellion from within, supported by the full Trident.

2. Politics and the national profile. Matrix and her corps of ambassadors are trying to position themselves as an important political force in the Broken Sea region in spite of their country's small territory. Their most important contacts are with Shalasia, Espava, Korv, and the Grat'han jungle trade network.

Major Strategies and Personal Projects

1a. The most important single prong of the attack on Kaiimar will be revolution from within. Fargelle and his "Kaiimar Team" has discovered and made contacts with an existing resistance force, and most of their recent efforts have gone into supporting and supplying it.

1b. Thragor, Xertz, Quil, and Fitz are in Kaiimar already, helping with training and preparations; they will be responsible, with Daryan and Herring, for keeping open the critical gate between the Merchant's Quarter and Outer City through which the resistance-led population will pour.

1c. Thaqz and Berlokh are in Kaiimar as well, preparing to disrupt communications and lines of reinforcement within the Merchants' Quarter and ensure that no significant Kaiimaran force can reach the critical gate before the revolting population storms through.

1d. Goldenrod is leading the giants and horned men, as well as the Trident and other forces, to the vicinity of Kaiimar, where they will deploy in preparation for the battle.

1e. Telaeri (Minister of Public Works) is in the Grat'han coastal village of Erglensefi to coordinate with an alliance of native tribes preparing to overrun the fields around Kaiimar and capture any merchant-lords who flee the city by land.

1f. Lynethizon (Minister of the Navy, head of Vengeance, and formerly captain of Black Steel's most formidable warship, the Avenger, until he turned command of the ship over to Alecto, long his first mate) has met with old acquaintances among the leaders of a large pirate fleet, and made special arrangements with them to assist in the naval invasion of the city.

1g. Daryan and his girlfriend, the mermaid Greyilah, are making arrangements with a nearby colony of merfolk to sabotage Kaiimar's navy or hamper their ships in the fight.

1h. Thorm "Glib" Casati, ambassador to Korv, has made provisions for another little surprise for the Kaiimaran military as well.

2a. Zeigan, acting ambassador to Shalasia in the absence of Matrix and Treylanisin, is working to lay the groundwork for a Black Steel commercial venture to sell iced fruit from the Grat'han trade network in Shalasia, to be carried over by a specially-designed "freezer ship," its hold lined with the Permafrost generated by Theril's spell. He is also trying to organize an international conference on education at The Scabbard on Theril's behalf.

2b. Fraegan is continuing Telaeri's (and Herring and Theril and Daryan's) work with the Grat'han trade network, acting as "ambassador" at the Reilahren village..

2c. Byriche, one of Faxanna's understudies from Gorlog's village, is now installed as ambassador to Espava, continuing to push Matrix's plan for an annual summit between Espavan and Shalasian officials at The Scabbard.

3. A temple to Maiden Pain. Charracks is ready to construct a temple to his goddess in Thornton (the port town of the Edge). He has selected an architect, has a plan for a small temple to be built up as the town grows, and is looking for inspiration, precedents, advice, and/or additional funds from existing temples even as he begins construction. In exchange for a favor he did for them, Quazar and Broxte have -- with some help from Brielle, formerly of the Rat Pack -- have done a little bit of traveling around the Broken Sea in search of temples to Vammakhel (Maiden Pain's true and rarely-spoken name), whose places of worship (and whose worshipers' existence) are often carefully concealed. Their search is on hold for now, thanks to the upcoming battle, but they've uncovered some leads to worshipers in Shalaton that might be promising if and when the search is resumed.

4. A deadly and powerful transmuter. Dargon and Quix have returned to Illenia, where they were tasked at one time by their dragon tutor with finding out the name of Arissa Delana's lover. They did find out who it was: A powerful and murderous transmuter named Thezrin Khon who was killing and taking the form of one victim after another to get close to her incognito. Apparently only the two of them were aware of the deception. Since discovering this and reporting it to their tutor, Dargon and Quix traveled all the way to Athalenia in the far west, in part to do further research, and in part to get as far away as possible from Thezrin Khon. Since then however, their tutor has recalled them to Illenia, for reasons he has yet to explain.

5. Independent from but in close communication with the Kaiimar Team and city resistance, Faxanna is feeding the people of Kaiimar's Outer City, giving them comfort, introducing those who seek it to the way of Nahl. At the same time, of course, she is quietly recruiting for the resistance.

6. Osiavia is helping out wherever she can around the Scabbard, unable to travel since she's presently in the late stages of pregancy -- the baby is expected in perhaps less than a month!

Immediate Tactics, Emergencies, and Activities as of Zerian 9

At this point, it's all about Kaiimar.

Inside the city:
- Faxanna, who will probably help lead the resistance from the Outer City.
- Thaqz, Berlokh, Glaxtiks, Nightcrawler, Slimmeran, Tisiphonus, Michlonne, and Doug, who will need to secret themselves within the Merchants' Quarter soon, in preparation for their missions: Cutting lines of communication and supply lines, cutting off reinforcements, and performing other acts of sabotage, spying, and assassination.
- Fargelle, Kyndral, Bexy, and Grilaud, who will help to lead (and clear the way for) the resistance in the Outer City.
- Daryan, Quil, Thragor, Xertz, and Fitz, who will ensure that the key gate between the Outer City and Merchants' Quarter remains open long enough for the resistance and rioting population to move in.
- Verian and the rest of the Kaiimar resistance, who will lead the charge through the gate.

At the staging area, due to join the forces in the city:
- The Trident, all three arms of which (Goldenrod's Group, Bob's Group, and Crovahd's Group) will be smuggled into the city ASAP, to ambush patrols and help fan the flames of rebellion in the Outer City.

En route to the staging area by sea, due to join the forces in the city:
- Herring and Notfrank, who will join Quil, Thragor, Xertz, and Daryan at the critical gate itself.
- Counts Solo, Quazar, and Broxte, along with long-time veterans Brielle and Dwiereth, all of whom will assist the Trident.
- Defense Minister Scaelorrel, who will assist with tactical planning, with assistance from Chief Engineer Trevor Franswath.

At the staging area, due to reposition for a direct attack on the outer walls of the Merchants' Quarter:
- The Rat Pack, of course including Jimmy and Miw (who much prefers his "little friends" to the company of other giants) who will provide their special brand of leadership and direction to the battle group.
- More than 40 other giants -- more than 45 if you count the pair of two-headed giants as two apiece -- who will provide most of the visual threat, plus of course artillery and sheer physical power. Roughly half of these are "merely" ogres, but many of the rest are large enough to be classified as "Mountain Giants," naturally including the three Cyclopes.
- Bane's Gristle, Charracks' living gargoyle lieutenant, to help keep the ogres in line.
- Nimlo and Terryon, who will provide magical support.
- Seven Horned Men, who provide additional muscle and help fill out the ranks.
- 30 elven archers from the Tornbring Vale Merchant Marine.
- Hegrakz, a wolfman heavy weapons specialist.

Somewhere at sea, making preparations for a naval assault:
- The Avenger, Black Steel's flagship, currently under the direct command of Lynethizon, Minister of the Navy, with Captain Alecto serving beneath him.
- The Nerreide, Lynethizon's small personal ship, available to carry messages or for emergencies.
- A large (not Black Steel) pirate fleet whose leaders and men have agreed to join the attack on Kaiimar and afterward depart beyond Black Steel's zone of influence.
- Theril, who will join the Avenger and proceed from there wherever she is needed most, providing the best magical support that Black Steel has to offer during the battle.

At the staging area and around the plains, preparing to attack the fields around the city:
- Hundreds, and possibly thousands, of trained warriors native to the Grat'han plains. They are also supported (and being trained) by a group of Lacrethah (Black Feather) warriors.
- Telaeri, helping to guide and support the native population.
- Treylanisin (currently en route, by sea) -- a Grat'han jungle native and ex-slave (and Foreign Minister Matrix's protege) -- who will assist the local natives and Tealeri.